Armored driving device.



H. USENER.

ARMORED DIVING DEVICE.

APPLICATION r1110 JULY24, 1915.

* Patented May23,1916.

a nvewtoz Ha THE COLUMBIA PEANOGRAPH 60., WASl- IINQTON. D. c.

UNI

; ruur HANS USENER, OF-KIEL, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB. TO THE FIRM or NEUFELCDT KUHNKE,

F KIEL, GERMANY. I ARMORCED Divine DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed July 24, 1915. Serial No. 41,805.

To all whom z't-may concern Be it known that I, Dr. HANS UsENnR, a c tizen of the German Empire, residing at Kiel, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Germany,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Armored Diving Devices; and I do hereby declare the followingv to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In patent application No. 839769 a rigid container for rigid diving dresses having a variable gas charge for regulating the ascent and descent is described, by means of which the diver can ascend and descend any suitable number of times. The interior of the container is in constant communication by means of a pipe with the surrounding water. The amount of gas contained is varied by opening a compressed gas container or an exhaust valve for the gas inclosed in the container. By this arrangement the variations of the surrounding water pressure are transferred to the charge of compressed gas, the volume of which is varied by suitable admission and discharge of water. The small variations in the uplift thereby caused may usually be disregarded, as the diver is generally provided with considerable controlling means of descent, in order to be able to work with certainty. -They may however, in certain cases, be appreciably deleterious where the diver, for example in working on the sides of sunken ships or on a slimy or muddy bottom, must bring himself into an equipoise or fixed position or an approximate equipoise. But the diver finds himself in an unstable equipoise, in so far as when rising beyond the position of equipoise, that is to say when the depth of water over the diver diminishes and there is a corresponding reduced pressure, the uplift constantly increases and forces the diver to the surface of the water, while when descending beneath the position of equipoise it diminishes and forces the diver down. In this arrangement in which the interior of the container is in constant communication with the external water, the diver is thus also not afi'orded the possibility of adjusting himself to a new position of equipoise. I

This invention has for its object to overcome this disadvantage. This is obtained by the insertion of a valve, tap, or other suitable closing. member in the pipe connecting the interior of the container with j the surrounding Water, which valve can be operated by the diver by hand. By this means the volume of gas contained in the lifting body, and thus also the ascensional power may be kept constant and independent of the pressure. I

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of the diving dress and the rigid buoyant chamber,-other parts being shown in ele vation. Fig. 2 is a view showing the relation of the pressure reservoir and the buoy- Y The chamber Z) is provided with a pipe 9,

passing out near the upper part of the chamber and having its lower end near the bottom of the chamber. Passage of water through this pipe is controlled or closed by the valve on having a handle 00 within the body of the diving dress in reach of the operator.

An exhaust valve f is provided for the buoyant chamber. The operation of the device is as follows :The valves j and m are opened and water is allowed to enter the chamber 6 until only the desired amount of buoyancy is produced, after which both.

valves f and w are closed. The buoyancy then remaining practically constant, even though the diver moves from one water level to another. buoyancy, valve 6 is opened and then valvem is opened slightly until the compressed air has expelled just enough water to produce the required buoyancy. If it be desired to .decrease the buoyancy valves f and a"- are opened until the water has forced out some of the air in the chamber.

The closing member may be connected by means of a common operating rod or a like means of transmission with the valve for admitting compressed gas from the compressed gas cylinder into the container, and with the valve for discharging gas from the If it is desired to increase the container, in such a Way that it opens or closes itself in the same direction simultaneously with the operation of one of them.

I declare that what I claim is 1. A diving device comprising a rigid diving dress; a rigid buoyant chamber attached,

thereto and separated from communication with the interior thereof; a compressed air tank separate from the interior of the diving dress; a discharge pipe connecting the lower part of the interior of the chamber with the exterior; an exhaust pipe in the upper part of the chamber; a pipe connecting the interior of the tank with the interior of the chamber; and valves in all of said pipes.

2. A diving device comprising a rigid diving dress; a rigid buoyant chamber attached thereto and separated from co1nmunication with the interior thereof, said chamber comprising one compartment; a compressed air tank separate from theinterior of the diving dress; a discharge pipe connecting the lower part of the interior of the chamber with the exterior; an exhaust pipe in the upper part of the buoyant chamher; a pipe connecting the interior of the tank withthe interior of the chamber; and

'valves' in all of said pipes.

In testimony whereof I afix my signature,

in presence'of two Witnesses.

DR. HANS USENER. Witnesses:

' JzULIUS Rorxn,

-HERMANN Sorn'irr.

Copies this patentmay be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 01 Batents.

Washington, D.-G. 

